Ex-Johnson, AR, Fire Chief Sentenced for Payroll Scam
A former Johnson fire chief who admitted to stealing thousands isn't headed to jail.
Investigators determined ex-Fire Chief Chance Wright, 36, was paying a man who didn't work for the fire department.
Brian Copeland, 45, who was receiving a paycheck from the city, was charged with theft, KNWA reported.
“Firefighters had allegedly seen a time card showing Copeland had worked multiple shifts for the fire department but no one remembered seeing him there,” according to charging documents.
There is no information on the disposition of Copeland's case.
Wright, who pleaded guilty last week to theft and abuse of property, was placed on probation ordered to pay $10,512.03 in restitution to the City of Johnson, fined $1,000 and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.
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Susan Nicol
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Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.